Fractional COO Jobs UK
Part-time Operations Leadership and COO roles across the United Kingdom. Day rates £600-£1,500 (PE-backed/turnaround to £1,500).
Fractional COO UK Market Statistics
Growth in fractional COO demand since 2020
Source: CMI / LinkedIn Talent Solutions
Of UK scale-ups using fractional operations leadership
Source: ScaleUp Institute Annual Report 2024
Typical savings vs full-time COO hire
Source: Institute of Directors Survey
Of UK fractional COO roles offer hybrid working
Source: CMI Flexible Leadership Report 2024
Fractional COO UK Fractional Rate Calculator
Calculate Your Potential Income
Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CFO UK average day rate: £1000.
BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.
Operations Leadership on Demand: The UK Market
Fractional COO jobs UK have grown 220% since 2020 as companies need experienced operational leadership without full-time overhead. The ScaleUp Institute reports that 65% of UK scale-ups now use fractional operations leadership.
When searching for fractional COO jobs UK offers diverse opportunities—PE-backed companies, scale-ups, tech, professional services, and manufacturing. CMI research shows companies with fractional COOs scale 40% faster. Tech companies often combine fractional COOs with fractional CTO jobs for aligned operational and technical execution.
For operations leaders seeking fractional COO jobs UK provides excellent earning potential (£900-£1,300/day) with variety. Whether you're a former COO, Operations Director, or general manager, the market is thriving.
Market Leaders
London hosts headquarters for fintech leaders including Revolut, Monzo, and Starling - all active users of fractional talent.
Flexible Working
65% of London fractional roles offer hybrid arrangements, per CIPD research.
Day Rates by Sector
Typical daily rates for fractional executives. Hover over bars for details.
Key Operations Sectors and Hubs
Tech Scale-ups
High demand for COOs who can scale operations alongside rapid growth. Process implementation, team structure, and operational efficiency focus. Strong in London, Manchester, and Cambridge tech clusters.
PE-Backed Companies
Operations leadership for value creation plans. Margin improvement, integration management, and operational due diligence. Premium rates reflect complexity.
Professional Services
Delivery excellence, resource planning, and service operations. Often combined with client success responsibilities. Strong demand from consultancies and agencies.
Manufacturing & Logistics
Supply chain optimisation, production efficiency, and logistics management. Growing demand for COOs with Industry 4.0 experience. Concentrated in Midlands and North.
Specialist Operations Leadership Roles
Integrator/EOS COO
£1,000-£1,400/dayEOS-trained operators who implement the Entrepreneurial Operating System. Popular with founder-led businesses seeking structure.
Scale-up COO
£950-£1,300/daySpecialists in the 20-200 employee journey. Process creation, team structure, and operational playbooks. Critical for Series A-B companies.
Turnaround COO
£1,100-£1,500/dayOperational restructuring, cost optimisation, and efficiency drives. Intensive project-based engagements with clear deliverables.
Chief of Staff
£850-£1,200/dayCEO support, cross-functional coordination, and strategic project execution. Often evolves from COO needs in smaller organisations.
The Future of Fractional Operations Leadership
The CMI forecasts continued strong demand for fractional COO professionals through 2028, driven by the ongoing complexity of scaling businesses, the popularity of operating systems like EOS, and the increasing acceptance of portfolio careers among senior operators.
Key trends shaping the fractional COO market include: growing demand for COOs with AI implementation experience, increasing importance of operational resilience post-pandemic, and the rise of hybrid operational models requiring sophisticated coordination.
Industry Resources & Professional Bodies
CMI (Chartered Management Institute)
Management professional body
www.managers.org.uk
Institute of Directors
Executive leadership body
www.iod.com
CIPS
Supply chain and procurement
www.cips.org
CIPD
People and operations
www.cipd.org
EOS Worldwide
Entrepreneurial Operating System
www.eosworldwide.com
APM
Project management authority
www.apm.org.uk
Operational Excellence Society
OpEx community
opexsociety.org
ScaleUp Institute
Scale-up insights
www.scaleupinstitute.org.uk
Fractional Jobs Fractional COO UK: FAQs
Common questions about fractional jobs Fractional COO UK
How much does a fractional COO cost in the UK?▼
A fractional COO in the UK typically costs £3,000-£10,000 per month or £600-£1,500 per day, depending on experience level and sector. According to ScaleUpExec and Like Sunday (Jan 2026): SME/mid-market COOs charge £700-£1,000/day, scale-up COOs charge £950-£1,300/day, and PE-backed/turnaround specialists command £1,200-£1,500/day. EOS Integrators typically charge £900-£1,200/day. This represents 49-71% savings compared to a full-time COO hire (£130,000-£230,000 annually including benefits).
What qualifications do fractional COOs need?▼
Most fractional COO roles require 10-15+ years of operations experience with prior COO, VP Operations, or Operations Director experience. CMI Chartered Manager status, Lean Six Sigma certification, and EOS/Integrator training add value. Proven track record of scaling operations, building teams, and implementing systems is essential.
How much do fractional COOs earn in the UK?▼
UK fractional COOs typically earn £750-£1,400 per day, with PE-backed and scale-up roles at the premium end (£1,100-£1,500). Working 2-3 days per week across multiple clients, annual earnings of £150,000-£300,000 are achievable while offering greater variety than permanent roles.
What's the typical fractional COO engagement?▼
Initial engagements typically run 6-12 months with 2-3 days per week commitment. Scale-ups often need more intensive engagement during growth phases or system implementations. Many relationships become long-term operational partnerships as companies value continuity.
Do fractional COOs work remotely?▼
About 65% of fractional COO roles offer hybrid arrangements. Operations leadership typically requires more on-site presence than other C-suite roles for team management, process observation, and hands-on implementation. Fully remote is possible but less common.
What is an EOS Integrator?▼
An EOS Integrator is a COO-type role specifically trained in the Entrepreneurial Operating System methodology. They run the day-to-day operations while the founder/CEO focuses on vision. EOS-trained fractional COOs are in high demand from founder-led businesses.
How do I find fractional COO roles?▼
The most effective approaches are: registering with specialist platforms like Fractional Quest, networking through CMI and IoD events, building relationships with PE firms who frequently place COOs in portfolio companies, and developing a LinkedIn presence showcasing operational expertise and scaling experience.
Explore More COO Resources
Discover related guides, job boards, and resources
Case Study
OneUp Productions
Gaming & Esports Production
Fractional GTM LeadThe Challenge
OneUp Productions needed to expand into new international markets but lacked the in-house expertise for go-to-market strategy. They needed senior GTM leadership without the commitment of a full-time hire.
Our Approach
Engaged as Fractional GTM Lead to develop and execute market expansion strategy, working 2-3 days per week alongside the existing leadership team.
Cost Effective
Senior GTM expertise at a fraction of full-time hire cost
Immediate Impact
Hit the ground running with proven playbooks
Flexible Scale
Adjusted involvement as needs evolved
Client Feedback
"As a growing gaming company, we needed GTM expertise but couldn't justify a full-time hire. The fractional model gave us exactly what we needed - senior leadership at a pace and budget that worked for us."
Fractional Executive Insights
Market Overview for Fractional Executives
Building a Portfolio Career in Fractional COO UK
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Written by a Practicing Fractional Executive
Dan Keegan
Founder & Fractional GTM Expert
With over 15 years of experience in executive leadership, go-to-market strategy, and business development, Dan brings real-world fractional expertise to help professionals navigate the executive job market.
Dan founded Fractional Quest after working as a fractional executive himself, understanding firsthand the challenges of finding quality opportunities and the value fractional leaders bring to growing businesses.
Prior executive experience includes
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